Do Right by thy Neighbor Exodus 22

Exodus 22 26-27 "If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious."

Here is a list of everyday "do rights" . It would seem that much of it could have gone without saying as they cover just plain acting right toward others. But having lived a long time, I can see that people tend to do the wrong until there is a penalty to redirect them. Even then, some people will still do what they can get away with.

Our society seems bent on breaking every commandment in the Bible. It seems to be the attitude that if enough people do wrong that it somehow makes it right. Not so.

A couple of verses jumped out at me. Verse 16 "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife." Now, for the most part that one has been thrown out the window but it is still right. It is a way to right a wrong.

Verse 21 "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." There was an old song about a stranger. It said of a young man that he was someones son. A person may be a stranger to us but somewhere they are known and not a stranger.

Verse 22-24 "Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry. And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. A very strict punishment for a very low action.

Psalm 34:13 "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."